Brian De Palma's 1983 movie about a Cuban cocaine-dealing gangster (scripted by Oliver Stone) was originally given an X-rating due to the intense graphic violence (remember the chainsaw scene?). After three cuts and a hearing with the MPAA, the film was finally graced with an R, making it suitable for teenagers to watch as long as their parents were sitting next to them. Even then, Scarface was met with mixed reviews due to its over-the-top use of violence and graphic language. Flash forward 25 years and it's been heralded as one of the greatest gangster movies ever made. Little known fact: unbeknownst to studio execs, sneaky director Brain De Palma released the original, uncut version to theaters and did not cop to it until months later.
Thu., July 31, 7:30 p.m., 2008
